Storms near Union County
The record holds 38 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Union County, North Carolina between 1854 and 2024. The busiest month is September, with 14 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 2 strength. 2 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 38storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 3at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Union County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 7 | 18% |
| Tropical storm | 26 | 68% |
| Category 1 | 2 | 5% |
| Category 2 | 1 | 3% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 2 | 5% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Union County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1854, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 2 |
| 1860s | 2 |
| 1870s | 2 |
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 3 |
| 1900s | 2 |
| 1910s | 2 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1930s | 1 |
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 3 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 2 |
| 2000s | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 2 |
| Jun | 3 |
| Jul | 6 |
| Aug | 7 |
| Sep | 14 |
| Oct | 6 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Union County
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1893 (North Atlantic)15 August 1893 to 2 September 1893, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1863 (North Atlantic)11 September 1863 to 20 September 1863, peak Tropical storm (60 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1878 (North Atlantic)1 September 1878 to 13 September 1878, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 970 hPa
Most recent storms near Union County
- Debby (2024)2 August 2024 to 10 August 2024, Tropical storm (40 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (70 kt), 980 hPa
- Elsa (2021)30 June 2021 to 10 July 2021, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 991 hPa
- Claudette (2021)17 June 2021 to 23 June 2021, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Union County
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa